ADDICTION AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS TODAY

AMHERST - OxyContin might soon replace alcohol as the addiction of
choice if more awareness isn't raised about the addictive powers of
this painkiller.

This week is Addiction Awareness Week in Cumberland County and the
local addiction services offices is hosting a film festival and
special showings of "Cottonland" to spread the message about the
dangers of drug addiction.

"We're really excited about this film festival and being able to show
'Cottonland'," Sandi Partridge of Addiction Services said. "It's a
great way to get the message out."

Tonight, Addiction Services will be hosting a movie night at Amherst
Regional High School while on Tuesday, "Cottonland" will be showed to
students at Parrsboro Regional High during the afternoon and to the
community at large that evening at the community band hall.

The show's director, Nance Ackerman, will also be on hand to lead a
discussion on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.

On Wednesday, Eddie Buchanan, the co-director of "Cottonland" and
whose experience with OxyContin was the inspiration for the film,
will appear at a showing of the movie at Tantramar Theatre at 7 p.m.

Ackerman, who first directed a film about the crisis that followed
the closure of Cape Breton's coal mines, returned to Glace Bay to
shoot "Cottonland" with the collaboration of recovering addict Buchanan.

The film, part of the National Film Board of Canada collection,
doesn't absolve the addict of responsibility, but it describes the
conditions in which the addict thrives. It also reminds people of the
spiral of social ills that follow addition including increased crime
and collapsing families.

OxyContin is a time-released pain medication developed in 1995 for
people needing around-the-clock pain relief. Taken as prescribed,
OxyContin is safe, but when abused it can be very dangerous and addictive.

Problems begin when people look for rush by crushing or chewing the
pill getting around the slow release habits of the drug so that the
oxycodone is released all at once.

"OxyContin is an issue here, but it's still hidden," he said.
"Alcohol is still No. 1 and it probably always will be, but we want
to raise awareness about this drug."

Addiction Awareness Week continues Thursday with a free skate at the
Richard Calder Arena in Springhill from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Addiction Services is also working with the Amherst Lions Club to
host Racing Against Drugs events at West Highlands Elementary and
Spring Street Academy.